With Amare Stoudemire powering for career playoff highs of 40 points and 16 rebounds, the Suns blew past the Dallas Mavericks 127-102 on Monday night in Game 1 of the Western Conference semifinals.
Phoenix had not played in eight days after sweeping Memphis, but the Suns came out rested and running against the Mavericks, who were coming off a 40-point victory over Houston in Game 7 of their first-round series Saturday night.
Joe Johnson had 25 points and Shawn Marion 23 points and 11 rebounds in a game the Suns never trailed.
Steve Nash, going against the team he left after six seasons when Mavericks owner Mark Cuban refused to come close to the five-year, $65 million he got from the Suns, was presented the league's most valuable player trophy by NBA commissioner David Stern before the game, holding it high above his head for the cheering crowd.
Then Phoenix was off and running, scoring the first eight points, leading by as many as 18 in the second quarter and 26 at the end of three.
